Apparatus for supporting an index member

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for supporting an index strip in a dictatingtranscribing machine or the like. The apparatus provides a pair of index strip holders, with the dictating-transcribing index marker positioned to move along and over one of the holders. An index strip is placed in this one holder during dictation, and the index marker provides marks on the index strip corresponding to end-of-message or other information supplied by the dictator. When the dictation is completed the index strip is removed from the one holder and is placed in a second holder, either on the dictating machine or on a similar machine used for transcription, and the second holder is positioned to be adjacent the index marker but not to be covered or otherwise obscured by the index marker. Each of the index strip holders has a partially open front for insertion and removal of the index strips, and each of the holders includes an ejection mechanism for removing an index strip therefrom.

[ Nov. 6, 1973 1 1 APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AN INDEX MEMBER [75] Inventor: Fred C. Bolick, Jr., Atlanta, Ga.

[73] Assignee: Lanier Electronic Laboratory, Inc.,

Atlanta, Ga.

[22] Filed: Nov. 8, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 196,556

56 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,119,303 12/1914 Mizell ..40/1OR 1,701,709 2/1929 Ostrander. 221/41 2,533,932 12/1950 Hayek 221/42 2,707,115 4/1955 Rolleston.. 312/50 3,304,554 2/1967 Helm 274/17 X Primary Examiner-Joseph W. Hartary Attorneyl larold D. Jones, Jr. et al.

[57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for supporting an index strip in a dictatingtranscribing machine or the like. The apparatus provides a pair of index strip holders, with the dictatingtranscribing index marker positioned to move along and over one of the holders. An index strip is placed in this one holder during dictation, and the index marker provides marks on the index strip corresponding to end-of-message or other information supplied by the dictator. When the dictation is completed the index strip is removed from the one holder and is placed in a second holder, either on the dictating machine or on a similar machine used for transcription, and the second holder is positioned to be adjacent the index marker but not to be covered or otherwise obscured by the index marker. Each of the index strip holders has a partially open front for insertion and removal of the index strips, and each of the holders includes an ejection mechanism for removing an index strip therefrom.

11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AN INDEX MEMBER purpose recorder and which electronically records the spoken dictation on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape, belt, or the like. Such dictating units also typically include an indexing device in the nature of a pointer or indicator which moves along a scale as dicta-' tion progresses, to indicate the amount of available dictating time on the recording medium which has already,

been used. Indexing apparatus of this type also may include a receptacle for removably receiving a markable index member upon which the dictator can provide index marks denoting the end of a particular piece of dictation, special instructions for the person who will subsequently transcribe the dictation, or other information. These index marks frequently are provided by the dictating apparatus, at the control of marking devices contained in the index pointer and actuated by the dictator through microphone-mounted switches or the like; when dictation is completed, the recording medium and the index member are both removed from the dictating apparatus and are then positioned in a transcription apparatus which, as is known to those skilled in the art, may comprise a special-purpose playback apparatus.

Since the dictating apparatus and the transcription apparatus have many components and functions, in common with each other, it is known to provide a combined dictation-transcription apparatus which is capable of being used selectively either for dictation or transcription; a typical use of such' dictation-transcription equipment would find one or more dictationtranscription units located at desks or other locations where dictation occurs and would find one or more generallyidentical units located at desks or other locations where transcription occurs, with the transcription stations being provided with appropriate foot-pedals or other controls as is known in the art. A problem arises, however, in the provision of combined dictationtranscription apparatus including an index member receptacle and index marking device as described above. Since it has been found advantageous to provide index strip marking with an index indicator or pointer including one or more scribes, punches, or other marking mechanisms contained within the indicator, such indicators have substantial physical size and therefore necessarily obscure a portion of the index strip along which the indicator moves. 1

This problem normally is not critical for the dictator, since he seldome needs to position the indicator precisely over a previously-made mark on the index strip. When the same apparatus is used for transcription, however, the transcriber typically is instructed to listen to the recording medium at places therealong corresponding to special instruction marks previously made by the dictator on the index strip. This accurate positioning of the indicator on the previously-marked index strip is difficult to accomplish with prior art indicating apparatus, however, since the physical size of the indicator in dictation-transcription apparatus obscures the very part of the index strip containing the mark or marks which the transcriber is attempting to locate. While a separate index indicator can be provided for use on the apparatus used only for transcription purposes, this defeats the economies and other advantages of providing a single unitary dictation-transcription apparatus which is equally useful for dictating and transcribing.

Still another problem frequently encountered with dictation-transcription apparatus of the prior art results from the fact that index members frequently take the form of a rectangular strip of paper. This strip must be inserted or withdrawn from the index receptacle through a slot at the end or along a side of the receptacle, a requirement which not infrequently produces bent or torn index strips, damaged fingernails for the transcribing secretary, and a general feeling of dissatisfaction with the apparatus.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved holder for an index member.

It is another'object of the present invention to provide an index member holder wherein an index member is quickly and easily removable or insertable in the holder.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide dictation-transcription apparatus including an improved holder for an index member.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide dictation-transcription apparatus including an incex member holding arrangement in which the index member is unobscured by an index indicator.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide dictation-transcription apparatus including an index member holder in which the index member is readily inserted and removed.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following specification including the drawing, in which: i Y

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged isometric view of a portion of the index member holder of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a section view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 shows a section view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2.

Stated in general terms, the present invention includes a pair of holders which are configured to receive an index member and which are positioned on a dictation-transcription apparatus so that the index indicator moves across one of the holders to be capable of applying marks to an index member received therein, and with the other of the index member holders being positioned adjacent to the first index holder so that the index indicator, while not covering or otherwise obscuring an index member disposed in the second holder, is in indicating relation with respect to such sec- 0nd holder. Each of the index member holders includes an open front for loading and unloading the index members, and has recessed end portions into which the ends of a strip-like index member may be retainingly received. An ejection device associated with each of the holders is provided to assist in removing the index strip from the holder. 1

More particularly and with respect to the embodiment of the present invention as depicted in FIGS. 1-3, there is shown dictation-transcription apparatus indicated generally at and including a housing 11 having a control area 12. An indexing apparatus according to the disclosed embodiment of the present invention is positioned on the front of the housing 11 as at 13, and includes a first or dictation index holder 14, a second or transcription index holder 15 disposed alongside the dictation index holder 14 and generally parallel therewith, and an index indicator 16 which is positioned over and in spaced relation to dictation index holder 14 and is connected by way of member 17 with the recording medium transport apparatus within the housing 11 in a manner known to those skilled in the art. The index indicator 16 may have an index mark 19 disposed thereon, and includes one or more selectively actuatable marking devices such as scribes, punches, or the like contained therein to mark an appropriate index member 18 which is received within the dictation index holder 14, it being understood that such marking is accomplished at the control of a dictator using such apparatus.

It can be seen from FIG. 1 that the index indicator, 16 substantially covers a portion of an index member which is received within the first index holder 14. When dictation has been completed, however, such index member is removed from the dictation index holder 14 in a manner described below and is then inserted as shown at 18, FIG. 1, in the transcription index holder 15, either in the same apparatus 10 used for accomplishing dictation or in a substantially identical such apparatus used primarily for transcription. Since the transcription index holder 15 is completely unobscured by the indexindicator 16, it will be apparent that the transcriber has no difficulty in reading the index marks applied to an index member received therein. Moreover, the presence of the index mark 19 on the indicator l6 enables the transcriber to position the indicator (and thus the recording medium) accurately, since the movement of the indicator 16 is controlled by the movement of the recording medium.

The dictation index holder 14 includes an index member supporting surface which is dimensioned to receive the index member used with the particular type of dictation-transcription apparatus; as shown in the present embodiment of the invention, the index member 18 comprises a rectangular strip of paper which may be coated on one side with a material which is selectively removed by the marking devices within the index indicator 16 to provide the aforementioned marking. Extending outwardly a distance from each end of the support surface 25 is a first retaining member 26 and a second retaining member 27, with both of these retaining members being spaced from the surface 25 a distance to permit the index member to be freely received therein. An upstanding lower wall 28 and an upstanding member 29 separating the two index holders l4 and 15 complete the peripheral definition of the dictation index holder 14.

The transcription index holder 15 similarly includes a support surface 30 and a pair of retaining members 31 and 32 which overhang end portions of the support surface 30 in spaced relation thereto. The periphery of the transcription index holder 15 is completed by the upper wall 33.

Each of the index holders l4 and 15 includes an index member ejecting mechanism including respective ejecting members '38 and 39 which are received for reciprocal movement in passages 40 and 41, respectively, and which have extension portions 42 and 43 extending outwardly of the indicating apparatus 13. It can be particularly seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 that each of the ejecting members 38 and 39 is located with respect to respectively overhanging retaining members 27 and 32 such that an index member 18 received within either of the index holders l4 and 15, contacts the appropriate one of ejecting members 38 and 39 to dispose that member and its corresponding extension outwardly of the index member receiving area. Similarly, it will be appreciated that depressing the extension 43, for example, when an index member 18 is received within the transcription index holder 15 causes the ejecting member 39 to contact the adjacent end of the index member and thus causes that index member to be bowed outwardly at its mid-section, as shown in phantom at 44, whereby the index member can be readily grasped with the fingers and withdrawn completely from the index holder.

Considering the operation of the herein-described embodiment of the present invention, it will be assumed that a dictator has just finished dictation, including the marking of an index member 18 which was initially disposed in the dictation index holder 14. The index member 18 is removed from its index holder by depressing the extension 42, thereby causing the index member to be bowed outwardly of the support wall 25 and to be readily removable from the dictation index holder. The index member 18 then is disposed in a transcription index holder 15, either in the same machine used for dictation or in a similar machine as described above. It willbe understood, of course, that the index member will accompany the recording medium upon which the dictation was recorded. The index member 18 is readily insertable into the transcription index holder 15 without need to laboriously thread the index member through end-loading or side-loading slots or other narrow apertures heretofore used with such equipment, and without need of clips, springs, or other devices to clamp the index member in'place. As the process of transcription progresses, the index indicator 16 moves along the indicating apparatus in its visionobscuring relation with the dictation index holder 14. However, the transcriber obtains a clear and unobstructed view of the index member 18 as disposed in the transcription index holder 15, and is readily able to determine the transcription location of the recording medium by observing the position of the index mark 19 carried on the index indicator l6 and positioned adjacent to the transcription index holder and the index member now positioned therein. When the transcription operation is completed, the index member 18 is readily removed from its holder by depressing the extension 43 in a manner as previously describd.

From the foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it can be seen that there is provided an index member supporting apparatus in which the index member is readily inserted and removed without the need for narrow slots or other like apertures and in which the index member, once inserted, cannot become inadvertently dislodged or displaced by being contacted with the marking device while the index indicator 16 is traversing across the index member. Furthermore, it can be seen that the present apparatus provides index member ejection apparatus of simple and straightforward design and which does not require springs, linkages, or other apparatus which is expensive to produce and which may be subject to maintenance problems conducive to abandonment or disuse of the marking apparatus.

it will be understood that the foregoing relates only to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and that numerous alterations and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for receiving an index member of certain area; comprisingreceptacle means dimensioned to define an area for:

receiving an index member, said receptacle means having a support surface to receive such index member and having an open region facing and spaced apart from said support surface; and

an ejecting member mounted on said receptacle means to selectively enter into said index receiving area in a direction substantially parallel to the support surface of said index receiving area to contact and displace an edge of an index member in said direction substantially parallel to said support surface so that the index member becomes bowed outwardly from the support surface and into said open region. 2. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: said receptacle means includes support surface means having substantially said area for receiving an index member; 7

overhang means disposed to cover a portion of said support surface means in spaced apart relation therefrom,

the portion of said support surface means remaining uncovered by said overhang means comprising said open region. 1

3. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said ejecting member is disposed to selectively enter said index receiving area-on a path substantially parallel to said support surface means at a portion covered by said overhang means.

4. Apparatus for receiving an index member in plural locations on a record-playback apparatus utilizing a recording medium; comprising: a

first means disposed on the record-playback apparatus for removablyreceiving an index member; second means disposed on such record-playback ap- I paratus for removably receiving such index member; index means received on such record-playback apparatus and disposed for movement relative to both of said first and second index member receiving means,

said relative movement being in response to movement of the recording medium and said index means selectively applies index marks to an index member received in only one of said index member receiving means and indicates index marks on an index member received in the other of said index member receiving means without obscuring such indicated index marks.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4, wherein:

said index means includes an index member marking device positioned for said relative movement along only said one index member receiving means to selectively apply an index mark to an index member 5 received insaid one index member receiving means; and said index means additionally includes an indicator positioned for said relative movement along the other of said index member receiving means in nonobscuring indicating relation to the index marks on an index member received in said other index member receiving means.

6. Apparatus for receiving an index member in plural locations on a record-playback apparatus utilizing a recording medium, comprising:

first means disposed on the record-playback apparatus for removably receiving an index member; second means disposed on such record-playback apparatus for removably receiving such index memher;

index means received on such record-playback apparatus and disposed for movement relative to both of said first and second index member receiving means;

said relative movement being in response to movement of the recording medium;

said index means'being' disposed in index marking proximity to one of said index member receiving means and being disposed in index indicating proximity to the other of said index member receiving means;

each of said first and second means comprising a receptacle means including a support surface dimensioned to receive such index member;

each such receptacle means having an open region facing and spaced apart from said support surface, each said open region dimensioned to permit such index member to be removably disposed in said receptaclemeans; and

each such receptacle means having ejecting means disposed for selective entry into said receptacle means to displace outwardly of said open region an index member disposed therein.

7 Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein each of said receptacle means includes overhang means disposed to cover a portion of said support surface in spaced apart relation therefrom, the portion of said support surface which is not covered by said overhang means comprising said open region.

8. Apparatus as in claim 7, wherein:

each of said receptacle means is configured to supportingly receive a strip-like index member; and

said overhang means associated with each of said receptacle means covering that portion of said support surface which supports the ends of such striplike index member.

. 9. Apparatus as in claim 8, wherein:

said ejecting means associated with each of said receptacle means is disposed for selective entry into Said receptacle in the space between an end of said support surface and said overhang means covering said end of said support surface, to displace outwardly of said open region an index member disposed in said receptacle means.

10. Apparatus for receiving and supporting an index member on a web-moving apparatus, comprising:

receptacle means having a support surface to receive an index member and having an open region facing and spaced apart from said support surface;

index means received on the web-moving apparatus in indicating relation with said receptacle means and operative for movement relative to said receptacle means; and

I said receptacle means including ejecting means disposed for selective entry into said receptacle means ber disposed in said receptacle means. 

1. Apparatus for receiving an index member of certain area; comprising receptacle means dimensioned to define an area for receiving an index member, said receptacle means having a support surface to receive such index member and having an open region facing and spaced apart from said support surface; and an ejecting member mounted on said receptacle means to selectively enter into said index receiving area in a direction substantially parallel to the support surface of said index receiving area to contact and displace an edge of an index member in said direction substantially parallel to said support surface so that the index member becomes bowed outwardly from the support surface and into said open region.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: said receptacle means includes support surface means having substantially said area for receiving an index member; overhang means disposed to cover a portion of said support surface means in spaced apart relation therefrom, the portion of said support surface means remaining uncovered by said overhang means comprising said open region.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said ejecting member is disposed to selectively enter said index receiving area on a path substantially parallel to said support surface means at a portion covered by said overhang means.
 4. Apparatus for receiving an index member in plural locations on a record-playback apparatus utilizing a recording medium; comprising: first means disposed on the record-playback apparatus for removably receiving an index member; second means disposed on such record-playback apparatus for removably receiving such index member; index means received on such record-playback apparatus and disposed for movement relative to both of said first and second index member receiving means, said relative movement being in response to movement of the recording medium and said index means selectively applies index marks to an index member received in only one of said index member receiving means and indicates index marks on an index member received in the other of said index member receiving means without obscuring such indicated index marks.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 4, wherein: said index means includes an index member marking device positioned for said relative movement along only said one index member receiving means to selectively apply an index mark to an index member received in said one index member receiving means; and said index means additionally includes an indicator positioned for said relative movement along the other of said index member receiving means in nonobscuring indicating relation to the index marks on an index member received in said other index member receiving means.
 6. Apparatus for receiving an index member in plural locations on a record-playback apparatus utilizing a recording medium, comprising: first means disposed on the record-playback apparatus for removably receiving an index member; second means disposed on such record-playback apparatus for removably receiving such index member; index means received on such record-playback apparatus and disposed for movement relative to both of said first and second index member receiving means; said relative movement being in response to movement of the recording medium; said index means being disposed in index marking proximity to one of said index member receiving means and being disposed in index indicating proximity to the other of said index member receiving means; each of said first and second means comprising a receptacle means including a support surface dimensioned to receive such index member; each such receptacle means having an open region facing and spaced apart from said support surface, each said open region dimensioned to permit such index member to be removably disposed in said receptacle means; and each such receptacle means having ejecting means disposed for selective entry into said receptacle means to displace outwardly of said open region an index member disposed therein.
 7. Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein each of said receptacle means includes overhang means disposed to cover a portion of said support surfacE in spaced apart relation therefrom, the portion of said support surface which is not covered by said overhang means comprising said open region.
 8. Apparatus as in claim 7, wherein: each of said receptacle means is configured to supportingly receive a strip-like index member; and said overhang means associated with each of said receptacle means covering that portion of said support surface which supports the ends of such strip-like index member.
 9. Apparatus as in claim 8, wherein: said ejecting means associated with each of said receptacle means is disposed for selective entry into said receptacle in the space between an end of said support surface and said overhang means covering said end of said support surface, to displace outwardly of said open region an index member disposed in said receptacle means.
 10. Apparatus for receiving and supporting an index member on a web-moving apparatus, comprising: receptacle means having a support surface to receive an index member and having an open region facing and spaced apart from said support surface; index means received on the web-moving apparatus in indicating relation with said receptacle means and operative for movement relative to said receptacle means; and said receptacle means including ejecting means disposed for selective entry into said receptacle means to displace outwardly of said open region an index member disposed therein.
 11. Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said ejecting means is disposed in proximate relation to an extremity of said support surface and is selectively operative to occupy a position normally occupied by an index member disposed in said receptacle means. 